Multipole multibranch electric switch



Nov. 20, '1 928., 1,692,068 1 A. R. WOLFE MULTIPOLE MULTIBRANCH ELECTRICSWITCH Filed April 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l flecw/fi 16. WOLFE INVENTORATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1928.

A. R. WOLFE MULTIPOLE MULTIBRANCH ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 5, 925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 PM m m 0 ATTORNEY is of the former type;

Patented Nev. 20,1928.

p t WOLFE, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

1 \KULTIPQLE uumnsmon ELECTRIC swnroH.

I a lication iued April 3. 1925. Serial No. 20,541. i

My invention relatesto improvements in multipole multibranch switches ofthe low loss blade and receptacle type, having either stationar inaindistributing pole blades and movable ranch polereceptacles, orstationary. main distributing pole recepticles and movable branch poleblades. This switch described and illustratediin this'sp'ecification Theobjects of my improvementare, first, to provide a means, of directly andquickly connectingthe leads from one aerial or loop,

one ground connection, one source of plate current, one source offilament current'and one loud speaker as may be required to any one ofthree or more (the larger number de pending upon the desig'n'of theswitch)"radio or radiophone receiving sets as desired for demonstationor other purposes, and at the same time have no dead end or noncurrentcarrying conductors connected to the circuits, and have the leadsconnecting said sources of current to the receiving set of practically,the same length reg'ardless as to which one ofthe three orimorereceiving sets are so connected. (The latter is accomplished inconnection withthe use'of themulti ole, multibranch switch by having thereceiving sets located equidistant radially'from the said switch)second, to provide for individualoperation of any one of thebranch waysof the switch, by local control,or by extendedcontrol from a pointwithinfour feet ofthe switch and near on a'line with the top center ofthe pedestal shaft and said branch way; third, to proudce a type ofmultipole multibranch switch which can be readily designed for voltagesin general use, and to most efficiently distribute from'a central supplyof current or currents requiring any number of poles to any number ofbranches or points of the compass; fourth, to provide a multipolemultibranch switch of such construction that it can readily be providedwith ametal cover, rendering the] switch practically dust proof withoutinterferringgwith its ,operation The apparatus and mechanism of'one formof the invention, a seventeen 'poleeight branch electric" switchisillustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which Fig. 1 is an approximate full size'vertical section of the switch on the broken line11, Fig. 2, with the branch binding post bars 28, branch binding posts29 and insulated flexible leads 3O omitted; Fig. 2 is a view lookingdown on the top of the entire switch withcover removed,- and with thebase and lower portion propor tionately enlarged and brought into view;Fig. 3'is a view of a part of the switch showing one end of one of theadjustable supportingguides14; Fig. 4 is a cross section view I of theshaft bushing 7, and a view inperspective of one main distributing pole8 in place on said bushing. Similar numerals refer to similar partsthroughout'the several views.

The pedestal shaft 1 rigidly supports the metal top plate 4, between thenuts 5 and 6, andis rigidly secured to the supporting base 2, to which 3the metal bottom plate, is secured by machine screws. 7 a cylindricalbushing of insulating material, fits snugly over shaft 1 covering nearlyits ventire length, and is rigidly secured to it by counter sunk machinescrews. The washer shaped blades 8 are the main distributing poles ofthe switch. Theyfit over the bushing 7, and are provided with apermanent key 9, which fits into keyway 10, on the bushing 7 preventingthem from turning'when in place. i

11 are bushings of insulating material which fit over bushing 7, andserve to support and separate the main distributing poles 8, and byscrewing up on nut '6 pressure is brought to bear on the entire columnof bushings 11, and main distributing poles 8', thus holding the latterrigidly in place. The plates 3 and 4 have an equal number of equallyspaced rectangular slots 12, in which travel the guiding shoulders 13,of the adjustable metal supporting guides 14., one of which support andguideeach end of each branch pole bar 15, which are made of insulatingmaterial andto which the spring copper or brass receptacle contacts 16,which are the branch polesof the switch, are secured. A second pair-ofshoulders 17 on each adjustable supporting guide 14, forms their sliding support which bears on a portion of the upper surface of bottom plate3 or under' surface of top plate 4 as the case may be.

One adjustable supporting guide 14 is clamped over each end of eachbranch pole bar 15 by means of tightening the nuts of bolts 18, or byloosening the nuts, the vertical position of each branch pole bar 15,and its supporting guides 14, may be varied a dis tance limited by thelength of the slots 19, in the latter.

T 0 each end ofthe metal control rods 20, which pass througlr bearingholes in the plates 3 and is secured a cam lever 21, having arectangularslot WlllCll fits over the projecting stud 22, ing guides 14.r 7

It can readily be seen that as the two cam levers at ends of anyonecontrol rod"-20*are placed over the stud 22 and secured to saidcontrol rod in a position parallelto each other, each branch polebar 15will at all times be parallel "to the pedestal shaft 1, and a* partialrevolution of said control rod in its'bearings will move thebranclrpoles 16 intoicontact, oroutot contact, with their re spectivemain distributing poles 8 11s may be desired, and the springs 3l tend tomaintain those positions.

Referring to Fig. 2'it will be'noticed that one ofthe branch pole areclosed. In this position the-branch pole receptacles 16,'close over themain distributing poleblades 8,1nalring contact for a'distanceot onefourth of an inch;

The rotating movement of the control rod 20 is. effected either bydirect control by nieans of the insulated handles 23, which are securedto the controlrods 20 by set screw and as shown in Fig. 2,"orby extendedcontrol, by means of extension rods connected to the stud bearing pins24, onthe cams21.

- Each branch pole bar 15, together with its respectiveequipmentrequired for its proper operation and connection, constitutes abranch way ortthe switch.-

Each main distributing poleS has gan indix'idual insulated: wire 25,shown" by the broken parallel lines in Fig.2,soldererd to it andconnecting. it with. a respective binding post 26, on the'mainbindingpost barr27, whichiis made of insulated material and is secured toaprojection of the top pla ted, shown in Fig; 2, and to'the base 2 bymachine screws. Onthis bar 27'are mounted seventeen binding posts oronei'or each pole of the switch, to which, leads fromvthe sourcesof currentor currents to be distributed should ordinarily be connected. I desiretovstate herethat it is not absolutely necessary to so connect thesupplyleads froni'the sources of current or currents toibedistrilnitedinorderto operate the switclninstead, theymay be connected to thebinding'posts29, of'any one branch way not in use, and the branch way-towhich connected will then serve as the main feed switch. orcutoutswitch, as desired, for allot said supply leads.

The branch binding post bars 28, are made of insulatingmaterial and aresecured by maof the adjustable support chine screws to projections ofthe top plate l and to the base 2 in a position parallel to the shaft 1,and to each other. On each of the branch binding post bars are mountedthe, branch binding posts 29, there being one bind- I am. aware thatmultipoledouble throw or two branch switches,having'knifeblade maindistributing poles whichi'canJbethrown into contact with respectivebranch" pole 1 recepjbeen'in general use prior'to myinve'ntion, and I donot claim such a switch; but

I claim:

1. In a". multipole multibi'anch electric switchoomprising a' centralcolumn of dis tributing poles insulated'fronreach other, dis trib uterterminals therefor, a pluralityiof col umns ofreceptor contactsinsulated from each other, arranged radially about said"central column",receptor terminals" therefor; and means whereby anynumber of columns ofreceptor contacts inay bemoved radially with respect to said centralcolumn to complete the circuit between said receptor and Tdistributerterminals.

2; In a inultipole mult'ibran'ch electric switch, a central-"columnot'poles insulated from each other and spacedF-apartapredtermineddistance, a plurality; of columns of similarily arrangedcontacts di'sposed'around 'said centralcolumn and means whereby theradially disposed columns are movedto make contact with said centralcolumn of poles.

3. In a multipole multibranch electric switch, a central column ofpolesinsulated from each other and spaced apart a predetermined distance, aplurality of columns of similarly arranged contacts di'sposedaround saidcentral column and means whereby the radially disposed columns aremovedradial- 1y to make contact'with said central column of poles. V.

4. In a multipole mult'ibra'nch electric switch, a central columnof'poles insulated from each other and spaceda part a predetermineddistance, a plurality; of columns of similarly arranged contactsdisposed .around said central column at equal'angl'es and means wherebythe radially disposedcolumnsrare moved radially to makecontactwith'saidicentral column of poles.

5. In a multipole multibranehswitclncoin tacles of either oneoftwobranchi ways, have" I 6 said support, a second" face plate,-aplurality column.

prisinga base, an end plate mounted 011 said ed between said faceplates, terminals therebase, a central vertical support mounted on for,and means whereby any number of said said base, alternate washer shapedconducting columns of receptor contacts are moved ra- 1 blades andinsulating bushings surrounding dially to make contact with Saiddistributing of columns of receptor contacts radially are r ranged aboutsaid center column and mount ARCHIE REXALD WOLFE.

